TWO PEOPLE, allegedly workers of ruling Trinamool Congress, died while making crude bombs at Bharatpur in Murshidabad around Monday midnight. Police have recovered a stock pile of at least a 100 bombs. This is the fourth such stockpile discovered by the police in the run-up to the Assembly polls beginning in April.

“Two people were killed and one wounded when the bombs they were making in a mud hut in Bharatpur village exploded before dawn on Tuesday,” said Murshidabad Superintendent of Police C Sudhakar.

Police said the incident took plate in a deserted field, which is around a kilometre from Bharatpur village. “There were no lights and the field, which is on the way to the river, is usually deserted. Around 12.30 am, villagers heard a loud explosion. They informed the police,” said a senior police officer.

The police, upon arriving at the spot, found three men covered in blood. They were rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared two persons — Minar Sheikh (36) of Bindapur village and Basir Sheikh (30) of Shardanga village — brought dead on arrival. The third, identified as Azad Sheikh of Dindarpur village, is critical and yet to recover consciousness.

Police have found five plastic containers with a hundred live bombs, which were later diffused by the bomb disposal squad. Central forces, now in full deployment in Murshidabad, took no chances and immediately cleared the village, while carrying out repeated flag marches in the area.

When contacted, Trinamool block president Noor Alum denied that the party was involved in the incident and making of crude bombs. “We want to fight free and fair elections… The opposition is alleging that we are involved in this, which is a case of criminal activity, to spread panic in the area and prevent Trinamool’s victory.” he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made no reference to the incident, instead said: “We will return to power. The people of Bengal are with us.”

The Opposition, however, was quick to point out that the incidents — two in Birbhum and one each in Malda and Murshidabad — map out Trinamool’s “weakness” in the state. “In Malda and Murshidabad, Congress and Left continue to be strong while in Birbhum, there is an ongoing battle between BJP and Trinamool. You can easily make out the manner in which Trinamool wants to return to power,” said a BJP leader.

TIMELINE
BIRBHUM: Feb 1, 2016
Bombs and bomb making material recovered from the house of Saroj Ghosh, a local Trinamool leader in Birbhum. At least 80 live bombs recovered.
BIRBHUM: Jan 21, 2016
Two people, including a Trinamool panchayat samiti leader, were killed when crude bombs stockpiled at their house exploded in a village in Birbhum district.
MALDA: Dec 28, 2015
Two were killed and two others injured when a bomb exploded at an illegal bomb making warehouse at Danga area in Malda. A relative of Nafozul Alam, a zonal president of Trinamool, were among the injured. A stock of a 100 bombs recovered.